“Bradley was doing the ordering and Coatman is the hired muscle, the enforcer.”

Bradley is also accused of demanding money from another man in August last year.

The alleged victim said he paid Bradley £300 after his girlfriend told him she owed Bradley £1,000.

He said when he handed over the money Bradley told him the debt was now on his head.

He claimed Bradley threatened to drive a Jeep through his girlfriend’s mum’s front window if he did not pay the rest.

The alleged victim said: “It was as plain as day if it wasn’t paid that’s what would happen.

“I took it as a warning. I genuinely thought this lad was either going to hurt [my girlfriend], hurt me or even drive a Jeep through her mam’s window.”

The alleged victim said he went to police when Bradley chased him for the rest of the money which he could not pay.

Jim Withyman, defending Bradley, suggested the alleged victim had only met Bradley once before when the defendant was with a group of other men and the alleged victim had wanted a fight with one of Bradley’s friends called Michael Williams.

The witness denied that.

Mr Withyman said: “You were worried there was going to be a complaint made by Mr Williams that you had been threatening him.”

The witness said: “No.”

Bradley, of Wynyard Mews, Hartlepool, denies two counts of blackmail and two counts of threatening to damage or destroy property.

Coatman, of Cotsford Park, High Hesleden, denies one count of blackmail.